Custom Rifle Build - MDT Oryx | Zermatt Action | 6mm Arc - Inside MDT

A good friend recently approached me and asked me to assemble a rifle for him. Prior to this, he had accompanied me to a two-day Pro PRS match and was hooked. When we discussed his build, he noted that we needed to be cost-conscious, though he did want a custom action, custom barrel, and a chassis system. A decent trigger was a must, and he would supply the optic. One of the other things he requested was off-the-shelf match ammo.

My recommendation to him was to get a Zermatt Arms Origin action. The Origin has great support with prefit barrels. Another neat option with the Origin action is the ability to replace the bolt head. When it came to caliber selection, my buddy wanted an accurate caliber with mild recoil so that his daughter could also comfortably shoot the rifle. Ultimately, we chose the 6 ARC. It is a great little match round, and it comes factory-loaded with a 108-grain EDM from Hornady.

BUILDING A CUSTOM 6 ARC BOLT ACTION RIFLE

Since my friend is left-handed, we had to find a suitable action, trigger, and chassis. Ultimately, my friend found an MDT XRS online, and we were off to the races. I had him order a Zermatt Arms Origin action with a 6 PPC bolt head. A quick call to Northland shooting supplies yielded a 6 ARC prefit for the Origin action. We also picked up a Trigger Tec special trigger with a left-handed safety and ordered some 6 ARC magazines from MDT.

I went ahead and assembled the rifle screwing the barrel onto the action, torquing to spec, and checking Headspace. We slipped the trigger tech trigger in place and bolted the action to the chassis. The chassis bolted up perfectly. To balance the rifle, we had to add a lot of weight, which brought the rifle up to 22 lbs. The rifle was good but not optimal, so we got on the MDT site, pulled up left-handed options, and ordered a left-handed MDT Oryx.

The hero of this particular story is the MDT Oryx Chassis System. This unassuming chassis is inexpensive compared to other chassis systems. It's very capable whether you take it hunting or to a competition. I know what you're saying: What's the big deal about the Oryx? Let's talk about the big deal.

The MDT Oryx is a no-frills, high quality chassis system. Oryx mated to a Tikka T3x.

The Oryx chassis, with its aluminum backbone and adjustable stock for length of pull and cheek piece, gave us all the adjustment we wanted out of a competition or everyday use chassis. With the Oryx, the rifle was now sub-17 lbs and balanced perfectly on a Game Changer bag without the use of external weight. The M-lok slots on the bottom of the forearm made a perfect platform to put an Arca rail on. The mag release was easy to reach, and the fitment was perfect. The MDT Oryx is available for a ton of inlets - If you have a Remington, Tikka, Savage, Howa, CZ, Mossberg, Ruger, or TC, you are covered. It also allows factory rifles to accept AICS magazines. The Oryx is an incredible chassis system at a great price point!

6MM ARTICLES FROM MDT

• Building a 6mm GT for Competition
• ANALYSIS: 6MM BR NORMA
• HORNADY 6MM ARC FOR COMPETITION
• 6mm GT Load Development
• LOADING 6MM ARC AND .223 REMINGTON WITH A DILLON PROGRESSIVE PRESS
• Ultimate Reloader: 6mm ARC and MDT TIMBR Frontier Rifle Stock
• MDT RELEASES 6BR AICS MAGAZINES
• MDT Mention - Ultimate Reloader 6GT Precision: From Reloading to 1000 Yards
• Analysis: 6.5x47 and 6x47 Lapua
• 6mm BR Norma Revisited

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have 20+ years in the automotive industry- first managing shops in the northwest for over 13 years and now as a factory rep for Hunter Engineering. I love my family, my faith, and my firearms. I've shot competitively in the PRS southwest region for two years. I also compete in long-range AR-15 competitions at least once a month and am an avid reloader. I have written for Ballistic Magazine's 'Ballistic Best' precision rifle edition for two years. My other hobbies include photography, videography, woodworking, and knife-making. You can find me on Instagram @davidinthesun